Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 1 [Map], appears to have been a double one, and to have been disturbed at an early date. Fragments of urns that could not have been reached by the plough, were scattered in all directions in the large portion of the mound; and one or two pieces belonged to vessels made of fine clay, well baked, and minutely ornamented with delicate indentations. There were also traces of fire and ashes. In the small portion of the mound were only pieces of charcoal.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 2 [Map], which had been similarly maltreated by the plough and nearly obliterated, produced nothing at all.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. The next barrow examined was one of small elevation, numbered 3 on the plan [Map], which has been so frequently ploughed over as to be rendered scarcely perceptible. At a depth of about seven inches from the surface in the centre of the mound, we discovered a skeleton, quite perfect, on its right side, knees bent, lying east and west, with its head to the west. The deceased must have been an aged man, for the spine and thigh bones were much curved, and the sutures of the skull were entirely obliterated. The teeth were also greatly worn down with use. The hands met in front of the abdomen, and close to them was an iron knife much corroded. The plough had torn up the pottery and scattered it in fragments about the barrow. It was of a thick coarse description and of a dark colour; and the lip of one of the vessels had rude indentations by way of ornament; and a band of similar character encircled the waist, two projections on opposite sides of the band serving for handles.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. No. 6 [Map] is the largest of the group, being 110 feet in diameter, and 12 feet in height; and like some of the other larger barrows with a fosse nearly obliterated. As in the case of Nos. 4 and 5, it was originally composed of vegetable mould, and was subsequently increased in dimensions by the addition of a coating of chalk. In order to satisfy ourselves that there was no central interment, we carried on our trench twelve feet beyond the centre; and next proceeded to examine the sides near the base. This we did by cutting a trench about twelve feet wide, in directions east and west from the south trench. The result was the discovery of separate interments 18 in number, in each case surrounded by flints, and portions of about 40 different urns of all forms and qualities: none being ornamented. Unfortunately the sides of the barrow had been trenched for planting, and the urns were so near the surface that they did not escape the spade. In several instances the bases and in others the rims of the urns occupied their original positions, the spade having cut off the upper portions and scattered them. If we suppose that two interments only were disturbed in 1840, the total number in this barrow must have reached 21 at the least, and consisted of persons of all ages. In addition to these, which with the exception of the skeleton in the cist, consisted of burnt bones, we found at (a) an unburnt fragment of an upper jaw, a few bones, and a small bronze coin so corroded as to be undecipherable.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 6 [Map]. About the year 1840, several cart-loads of earth were taken from the south side for the purpose of levelling the yard annexed to a field-barn close by. In doing this the labourers found a skeleton, burnt bones, and as many as five urns, at a distance of six or eight feet from the base of the barrow, and from two to three feet below the surface. One of the men employed in this work told me that the urns were entire when found, and that only two were taken up whole. I have not been able to ascertain with any certainty what has become of them. He also described the posture of the skeleton, as lying on its right side with the legs bent.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. The small barrow No. 7 [Map] in the annexed plan, opened in 1805, of which there is no published record, so far as I know, is said traditionally in the parish to have produced "a small saucer." I reopened it in September, 1855, and found an empty cist. It is a small mound in the centre of a circular enclosure which is surrounded by a fosse and vallum. This is not an unfrequent form of grave mound on the Wiltshire Downs, to which I shall refer later.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 8 [Map]. Portions of a thick ornamented jar were found scattered about at various depths, and also one fragment of another vessel of a thinner description of ware. About three feet from the apex was a collection of burnt bones, and seven small beads, two of jet and five of amber, or of some other material, the surface of which has undergone decomposition. At a depth of five feet from the top of the mound we found the bones of the pelvis, two thigh bones and three ribs of a man, with here and there a small fragment of burnt human bone. About six inches beneath these bones were traces of a short wooden plank, six inches wide, one inch thick, and three feet long. The barrow appeared to have been disturbed at an early period. A few days later we continued our investigations, and at a depth of 18 inches beneath the wooden plank, found a cist dug out of the chalk, containing an undisturbed interns of burnt bones.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 9 [Map], was imperfectly examined by us, and it was our intention to explore it again on some future occasion.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 10 [Map], a low one, of four feet six inches elevation, contained a burnt body at a depth of about one foot from the apex, surrounded by large flints, and at intervals child about eighteen inches beneath each other, three more interments. Each collection of burnt bones was encircled with flints. The bones were reduced by fire to very small fragments; and there was no trace of pottery, or relic of any kind, in any part of the mound.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 11 [Map], a low one, slightly elongated in form, contained burnt bones about one foot from the apex, in this case not surrounded by flints.‘The bones had been carefully laid in a heap on mould 18 inches above the level of the ground, and appeared to be the only interment. A fragment of a bone implement was found but no pottery.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Barrow No. 12 [Map], a low one, was next attacked, and contained the skeleton of a child, on its right side, in a cist two feet long, north-west and south-east, the head being towards the former point. Near the breast was found a bead of Kimmeridge coal, and on the south side of the head near the face, was a small jar or cup with one handle, inverted, and nearly entire. A small piece was wanting to complete the vessel, but as the edges of the fracture were worn, it is probable that it was deposited in the grave in a broken state.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. In the small low barrow No. 13 [Map], we found an empty cist only.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Eastward of this group of barrows, across the road leading from Collingbourne to Salisbury, in the direction of Windmill hill, there are two small barrows [Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 14 [Map] and Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 15 [Map]] which were examined in November, 1861. At about one foot from the apex of one, were found a small Roman coin, much corroded, a piece of slate in which a hole had been begun to be drilled, and a fragment of Samian pottery. A few fragments of coarse dark pottery were scattered about the mound, indicating a previous disturbance. Near to this barrow is a second, part of which has been removed in making a roadway. A large number of flints lay close under the turf, and among them were many fragments of two large urns (mouths downwards) of dark, coarse, and thick ware, which originally contained human bones. The urns rested on a layer, one foot thick, of large flints, and under tnem, in the centre of the barrow, was a circular hole dug in the chalk, two feet wide and two feet deep, containing a mass of charcoal and incinerated human bones. The bottom and sides of the hole were red and discoloured by fire.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. Eastward of this group of barrows, across the road leading from Collingbourne to Salisbury, in the direction of Windmill hill, there are two small barrows [Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 14 [Map] and Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 15 [Map]] which were examined in November, 1861. At about one foot from the apex of one, were found a small Roman coin, much corroded, a piece of slate in which a hole had been begun to be drilled, and a fragment of Samian pottery. A few fragments of coarse dark pottery were scattered about the mound, indicating a previous disturbance. Near to this barrow is a second, part of which has been removed in making a roadway. A large number of flints lay close under the turf, and among them were many fragments of two large urns (mouths downwards) of dark, coarse, and thick ware, which originally contained human bones. The urns rested on a layer, one foot thick, of large flints, and under tnem, in the centre of the barrow, was a circular hole dug in the chalk, two feet wide and two feet deep, containing a mass of charcoal and incinerated human bones. The bottom and sides of the hole were red and discoloured by fire.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. On the slope of the hill, on the left of the road leading from Everley to Ludgershall, soon after you have crossed the Collingbourne and Tidworth road, you may perceive three small low barrows [Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 16 [Map], Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 17 [Map] and Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 18 [Map]] near to each other, and in a line running nearly east and west. They have been greatly reduced in elevation by the plough, and were examined by me in December, 1857. In the westernmost one, at a depth of one foot from the apex, I found a thick layer of wood ashes and charcoal, in which were a few burnt human bones, covering a space of about four feet in diameter. Under this layer was a circular hole dug in the chalk, fourteen inches in diameter and one foot deep, containing burnt human bones and charcoal. In the middle barrow was a similar layer of charcoal, covering a hole two feet in diameter and two feet deep, filled with burnt human bones and charcoal.

In the third barrow there was no cist or hole, but at a depth of six inches from the apex was a heap of burnt human bones and charcoal, and among a: a perfect bone pin, pierced at the larger end. There was no trace of pottery in these barrows, but there were a few animal bones reduced to small fragments, and in the last, portions of the skull and the curved bony cores of the horns of what was probably a small Bos dongifrons.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. On the slope of the hill, on the left of the road leading from Everley to Ludgershall, soon after you have crossed the Collingbourne and Tidworth road, you may perceive three small low barrows [Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 16 [Map], Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 17 [Map] and Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 18 [Map]] near to each other, and in a line running nearly east and west. They have been greatly reduced in elevation by the plough, and were examined by me in December, 1857. In the westernmost one, at a depth of one foot from the apex, I found a thick layer of wood ashes and charcoal, in which were a few burnt human bones, covering a space of about four feet in diameter. Under this layer was a circular hole dug in the chalk, fourteen inches in diameter and one foot deep, containing burnt human bones and charcoal. In the middle barrow was a similar layer of charcoal, covering a hole two feet in diameter and two feet deep, filled with burnt human bones and charcoal.

In the third barrow there was no cist or hole, but at a depth of six inches from the apex was a heap of burnt human bones and charcoal, and among a: a perfect bone pin, pierced at the larger end. There was no trace of pottery in these barrows, but there were a few animal bones reduced to small fragments, and in the last, portions of the skull and the curved bony cores of the horns of what was probably a small Bos dongifrons.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1866 V10 Pages 85-103. On the slope of the hill, on the left of the road leading from Everley to Ludgershall, soon after you have crossed the Collingbourne and Tidworth road, you may perceive three small low barrows [Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 16 [Map], Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 17 [Map] and Collingbourne Ducis Barrow 18 [Map]] near to each other, and in a line running nearly east and west. They have been greatly reduced in elevation by the plough, and were examined by me in December, 1857. In the westernmost one, at a depth of one foot from the apex, I found a thick layer of wood ashes and charcoal, in which were a few burnt human bones, covering a space of about four feet in diameter. Under this layer was a circular hole dug in the chalk, fourteen inches in diameter and one foot deep, containing burnt human bones and charcoal. In the middle barrow was a similar layer of charcoal, covering a hole two feet in diameter and two feet deep, filled with burnt human bones and charcoal.

In the third barrow there was no cist or hole, but at a depth of six inches from the apex was a heap of burnt human bones and charcoal, and among a: a perfect bone pin, pierced at the larger end. There was no trace of pottery in these barrows, but there were a few animal bones reduced to small fragments, and in the last, portions of the skull and the curved bony cores of the horns of what was probably a small Bos dongifrons.